Regional action

IUCN in Asia
IUCN’s goal in Asia is to conserve biodiversity and to promote sustainable and equitable use of ecosystems and natural resources. Despite a regional awakening of the importance of conserving the environment, people still need to better understand and realize the goods and services that nature, biodiversity and ecosystems provide to mankind. The importance of well-functioning ecosystems in helping reduce poverty and improve livelihoods, societies and economies needs to be integrated into decisions and actions.

IUCN’s core business, is to influence and build capacity to improve people’s livelihoods and to conserve the diversity and integrity of the region’s ecosystems and the livelihoods they provide. In the case of Asia these goals are pursued through a combination of territorially based activities (Country Programmes) and thematic based activities (the Ecosystems and Livelihoods Group and their Regional Thematic Programmes). There are currently eight Regional Thematic Programmes integrated within the IUCN Asia Ecosystems and Livelihoods Group (ELG) and ten Country Programmes, as well as emerging initiatives.

Our Strategies in Asia
IUCN ARO supports and develops cutting-edge conservation science and implements research in field activities throughout the region. By linking both research and results to local, national, regional and global policies, IUCN Asia is building bridges, convening dialogues among governments, civil society and the private sector to find pragmatic solutions to pressing environmental problems.

The priority of IUCN in Asia is to build recognition based on sound science, of the many ways in which human lives and livelihoods, especially of the poor, depend on the sustainable management of natural resources. In its activities, IUCN Asia applies sound ecosystem management to conserve biodiversity and builds sustainable livelihoods for those directly dependent on natural resources. The uniqueness of IUCN in Asia lies in its ability to work at all levels from the UN and national governments to remote rural communities in marginalized areas.

The Asia Programme was originally structured as independent Country Programmes, and its decentralized nature remains important. This is reflected in the country and thematic units ability to determine their priorities and to adapt their activities within the intersessional programme to incorporate country and sub-regional contexts.

Drawing on national and thematic expertise is one the key strengths of IUCN as it implements activities at the regional level. This approach encourages the transfer of experiences and lessons learned in the field to the provincial, country and regional levels where they can be used to generate awareness, mobilize constituencies and inform policy.

Additionally, work at the regional level allows IUCN to address the concerns of neighbouring nations, such as shared landscapes or river basins. It facilitates the drafting of agreements to address transboundary issues such as migratory species others.